Clare grapplers fall to Meridian

By Ben Murphy

The Clare Varsity Wrestling team hosted a Jack-Pine Conference dual meet against the Sanford-Meridian Mustangs on Wednesday January 23, 2013. Wrestling started off at the 103 pound weight class where the Mustangs took 6 points by void, followed by a double void for both teams at 112.

The first match of the evening took place at 119 pounds featuring Michael Evers of Clare and Matt Hoffman of the Mustangs. A tough battle was fought between the two wrestlers, however Hoffman pulled out a 12-6 minor decision over Evers, which was followed by another 12 points for Meridian by voids from Clare, making the match score, 21-0 in favor of Meridian.

Zach Betzer wrestled tough at 140 pounds but Devon Posey of Meridian tacked on 15 points to earn himself a tech fall, and 5 more team points. Dominik Herkel picked up Clare’s first points of the night when Meridian voided his weight class, finally putting the Pioneers on the board, 26-6. Eric Litke went out and fought hard at 152 pounds for Clare against Seger Jackson, but was pinned late in the 3rd period to add 6 more points onto Meridian’s team score. Logan Emery turned things around for Clare after pinning Jeremy Wenzlick in the first period to draw the Pioneers, 32-12.

Junior Brandon Ayris found his way onto the mat for the first time this season after recovering from a football injury, and seemed to fall right back into his groove, pinning Jacob McGraw of Meridian in the first period to earn 6 more for Clare. Brenden Hensley followed suit with another pin in the first period to bring the score, 32-24. That was the end of the night for the Pioneers as Eric Fader and Kane Sturgen of the Mustangs pinned Tyler Orwig and Bob Green to make the final match score, 44-24, win goes to Sanford Meridian.